Archive for March, 2017

An event aimed at all businesses to explain the rules of the new VAT system will cover the general application of the new VAT rules and will not focus on any specific industry sector.​ Several workshops are scheduled across the U.A.E.
Dubai
Date:12/04/2017
Morning session Time:09:00 AM-12:00 PM
Afternoon session Time: 02:00 PM-05:00 PM
Attendees:500
Place: Please note that the exact venue details will be sent to you 72 hours before the event.

Similar events will be held on 18th and 30th April in Dubai.

An excise briefing will be held Excise Tax briefing. An event aimed at businesses involved in the import, production and sale of tobacco products, carbonated drinks and energy drinks to explain the rules of the new Excise Tax system , ​will be held 10 May in Dubai.

An event aimed at small and medium businesses to explain the rules of the new VAT system. The event will cover the general application of the new VAT rules and will not focus on any specific industry sector.​
City:Dubai
Date:16/05/2017
Time:09:00 AM-12:00 PM

Similar session are planned for other Emirates details: https://www.mof.gov.ae/En/Pages/workshops.aspx

If you are considering an upgrade to Dynamics 365 for Operations, then your license anniversary or enhancement renewal date is significant, You have the opportunity to do a full platform and license transition. There are specific incentives and license credits available to make this transition when you are on a supported product version.

The Mainstream Support End Date of your Current Dynamics AX Software Version:

If you do not opt to move to a cloud-based license model at your license anniversary, then the next important date to consider is the mainstream support end date for the current product you are using:

Support Dates for Existing Dynamics AX On-premise products:
◾AX 2009, AX 2012 R1 & R2 – Mainstream support ends in April 10, 2018; Extended support is available until October 12, 2021
◾AX 2012 R3 – Mainstream support ends on October 12, 2021; Extended support is available until January 10, 2023
Why is it important to be on a Mainstream Supported Product?

There are many reasons to be on a supported product :
1.The option to receive support updates and hotfixes – this is the forum in which Microsoft collects bugs and issues and systematically releases fixes, making the platform up-to-date and reliable.
2.Regulatory Compliance ends with Mainstream Support – this means that when your organization is legally obligated to follow regulatory compliance standards, this process will need to be manually completed.
3. Access to Customer resources.

During Extended support, Microsoft provides support for the product and will provide security-related hotfixes.

Your Dynamics Roadmap – Action Plan

So, what should all of these dates mean to you? The answer depends on many things: which version you’re currently using, the range of modules, and customisations, and integrations, your hardware investment, internet connectivity, how you are impacted by statutory changes, economic pressures, and so on..

For those on AX 2009, AX 2012 R1 & R2:

It’s ideal to be on a mainstream supported product, and extended support is available through October of 2021. In either scenario, you need to an action plan to:
◾Decide whether to stay on premise thereafter , or whether to go cloud at some point.
◾Decide to what product you’ll upgrade and whether this will be a one or two step process – AX 2012 R3 or direct to Dynamics 365 operations?
◾Identify requirements for path chosen (Data migration, customizations, process change, short term hardware investments, whether to upgrade SQL or operating systems, etc.)
◾Budget [time and money] for the requirements gathering [can last several months] and the actual upgrade
◾Identify internal/external resources to execute the project
◾Perform and test the upgrade , and train new users.

Most companies want to have the decision and plan in place before mainstream support ends – which is just over a year away – April of 2018 for 2019.

There are other incentives as to upgrading sooner rather than later.

For those on AX 2012 R3:

Like the clients on AX 2009, 2012 R1, & R2 (above), the same decisions must be made.
Do you want to upgrade to Dynamics 365 Operations?
Do you want to stay on premise?

While your mainstream support lasts longer, there are benefits and incentives to consider when deciding on a timeline for your changes.

On-premise vs. Cloud Options:

Until February 2017, existing on-premise clients only had 3 Options:
◾Stay with your Perpetual License on AX 2012 or earlier (keep paying Enhancement or Software Assurance)
◾Upgrade to Dynamics 365 for Operations and move to Subscription Only [Cloud] Model (available at license anniversary/renewal)
◾Upgrade to Dynamics 365 for Operations in a Hybrid Model (Perpetual License + Cloud Add-On)
◾ Move to Dynamics 365 for Operations subscription license but continue to use Dynamics 2012 on premise R3 for some time before moving to Dynamics 365 for Operations (‘equivalence”)

On February 23rd, Microsoft announced a new, hybrid option based on edge computing:
◾Upgrade to Dynamics 365 for Operations, but stay on premise, either with a subscription license or keep a Perpetual License model.

On Monday last week in the Tech Conference , Microsoft announced more details about the new deployment options for Dynamics 365 for Operations that will be available in Q2 2017.

In addition to a pure-cloud environment, organizations can now choose from two options on how this can work .

◾The first is a hybrid deployment (called Cloud and Edge) where critical operations processes, as an example, can remain in an on-premise database, but the power of the cloud can be harnessed for additional scalability.

◾ The second option is, essentially, on premise option. Microsoft calls this option Local Business Data, where Dynamics 365 resides in your existing datacenter.Investment Credit and Incentives:

Most companies do their budgeting annually, so planning your roadmap should already be underway in 2017. At the Summit Conference last October, Microsoft announced a 40% discount to existing on-premise clients who want to transition to the new Dynamics 365 Cloud Platform. This incentive is active for 3 years.
If you transition in 2017, you’ll be able to leverage 2 years of discounts,
if you transition in 2018, then you’ll only be able to leverage 1 year of discounts
If you do not transition till 2019, you may not get a discount (depending on transition month).

Under Dynamics 365, licensing SKU’s, functionality and license names also changed , so there is an additional consideration to make in how your organization is licensed. Like previous license models, Dynamics 365 for Operations has different user license types – each with different user rights. The more prescriptive you can be for what your users need to access to the more accurate will be your license transition and the more money you can save.

Strategic Planning with Synergy Software Systems

Synergy Software Systems can undertake a license and environment audit to help you understand your high- level options and costs associated with those options. If you feel that cloud has exciting new functionality and integration that you’ve been looking for, use the time you have between now and your next license anniversary/renewal to look at Dynamics 365 for Operations with us and decide if it’s right for you.

If you’re on Dynamics AX 2009, AX 2012 R1 or R2, use the time between now and April 2018 to decide how to best leverage your existing investment in your ERP system in the next supported step in your Dynamics roadmap journey.

If you’d like help to better understand your options then reach out to us on 00971 4 3365589

- What are the challenges an opportunities for the spa industry in the U.A.E. ?
- Hear from industry professionals.
- Find out how Core from Premier Software and Deyafa Systems can help you increase you inquiry conversion, and customer retention, and drive your SPA REVPATH.

Premier Software gets to the ‘Core’ of your business.
The industry’s leading spa business management software companies has confirmed as a key speaker at an exclusive one day event held at the Microsoft Gulf, Gem Auditorium, Internet city, Dubai.

Premier Software has teamed up with Deyafa Hospitality Solutions to host an exclusive event showcasing its flagship software system – Core by Premier Software (Core).

The event is supported by Microsoft and Synergy Software Systems,.

Developed specifically for the spa, wellness and leisure industry, Core is already the software system of choice for many leading hotels and spas across the world including the Buji Club – Burj Khalifa, InterContinental® Dubai Marina, Nikki Beach Resort & Spa, The Belfry and The Corinthia.

Core brings together over two decades of experience to deliver a business management system that provides a complete overview of your business at the touch of a button. Core is available both as a single site, and a multi-site solution.

Leonie Wileman, Premier’s Chief Operating Officer, will then showcase ‘Core’ and how its capabilities help a spa be more profitable. “The spa and wellness industry is constantly evolving and many of our clients are looking for a robust IT solution that not only integrates with existing PMS, but can also flex to accommodate future growth,” she said. “The event is an ideal opportunity for visitors to explore Core, see how it works and integrates with existing systems and fully understand how it can transform a business. Core helps to maximise profitability, to streamline day-to-day operations and to pinpoint areas for growth. It is easy-to-use for everyone form the Group Financial Director’s through to the therapists and reception staff.”

The event will also showcase the Core solution with a live demonstration.

We will also hear about some implementations of Core, in prominent spas.

There will be opportunity to mix with other regional spa professionals at the event.

Deyafa Systems is a Dubai based speciality provider of globally branded hospitality solutions. Stephen Jones, Director of Deyafa Systems, said. “We are excited about the new release of Core, an integrated, new generation of spa software. It builds in Premier Software’s years of spa management experience and leverages Microsoft’s powerful technology to improve REVPATH, customer conversion and customer retention.“

Premier has been working with Deyafa since 2003 to provide hospitality IT solutions to both independent spas, and wellness centres, and to large international hotel groups. With its single database structure that can be tailored to meet a sap business’s exact requirements,

Core is rapidly proving to be the software system of choice for the industry.

To register:
Call Suresh 00971 4 3365589/ 33744582
or
Email: suresh.savari@synergy-software.com
or
register on line http://deyafasystems.com/PremierSPAevent

By January 1, 2018, it is expected that value added tax (VAT) will be applied at a rate of 5 per cent on most goods and services in the UAE and wider GCC region. The Unified Agreement, previously referred to by the working title of a framework agreement, is an overarching agreement that will be concluded by all six GCC nations. The best acronym, albeit long, is “GCC UAVAT”.

The unity referred to in the GCC UAVAT is a unity of purpose. The GCC UAVAT is intended to make sure that VAT is introduced in the GCC in a coordinated fashion. It does not necessarily mean that each national VAT law will be identical, nor that those national laws will all become effective on exactly the same date.

The rate of VAT has been confirmed at 5 per cent, a figure that was agreed at GCC level in mid-2016.
Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer. Speaking to reporters after a joint press conference with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF in Dubai, Al Tayer said 100 food items, health, education, bicycles and social services would be exempt from VAT. Further information was provided by the Bahraini information affairs minister, who held a press conference attended by the under-secretary for finance in Bahrain. The Bahraini minister confirmed that basic food and other consumer commodities, medicines and medical supplies will be exempt from VAT. The list of exemptions signals a clear intention on the part of the GCC authorities to temper the mildly regressive nature of VAT.

VAT is an indirect tax applied at every stage of the supply chain, the end effect of the levy is on consumers who finally pay the tax while buying a good or service. Businesses collect and account for the tax, in a way acting as a tax collector on behalf of the government. A business pays the government the tax that it collects from the customers while it may also receive a refund from the government on tax that it has paid to its suppliers. The net result is that tax receipts to government reflect the ‘value add’ throughout the supply chain. VAT is said to be a “self-policing” tax because of the netting-off of input tax from output tax at each successive stage of the production and distribution cycles. Thus, administration is not confined to the national tax authority. As taxable entities, VAT-registered businesses also have administrative responsibilities. Work must be undertaken in that important regard.

There are four important stakeholders in this VAT episode: – governments (beneficiary), businesses (tax collectors), consumers (taxpayers) and consultants (VAT experts). VAT is a tax on consumption. It is ultimately paid by the consumer, in other words “the public” in some shape or form. The public does, therefore, need to be aware.

The businesses that are required to collect the VAT and deposit it with the government are the most worried . They will have to perform an extra function, which could result in additional hiring and costs, or risk of fines, although they do not receive a direct economic incentive. It is not just a question of simply collecting and remitting, , being in the ‘middle’ may bring several complexities.

if the UK and EU VAT regimes are anything to go by, the complete legislative picture will comprise a number of layers. All businesses in the UAE will need to record their financial transactions and ensure that their financial records are accurate and up to date.
– Businesses that meet the minimum annual turnover requirement (as evidenced by their financial records) will be required to register for VAT.
- Businesses that do not think that they should be VAT registered should maintain their financial records in any event, their turnover may change, and the in case the government tax team may need to establish whether they should be registered.

Registration for VAT is expected to be made available to businesses that meet the requirements criteria, three months before the launch of VAT. Businesses will be able to register online using eServices

Registered businesses will be expected to submit VAT returns on a regular basis. It is expected that the default period for filing VAT returns will be three months for the majority of businesses. Registered businesses will be able to file their returns online using eServices.

Details of the Tax Law will be made to the press and details will be published on the Ministry of Finance website. The primary source of information regarding the UAE VAT Law is the Ministry of Finance website.

There may be some special rules on VAT for organizations such as government entities as well as refunds available in some circumstances, especially where international obligations require us to make those refunds.

Everyone is urged to fully comply with their VAT responsibilities. The government is currently in the process of defining the exact fees and penalties for non-compliance.

VAT-registered businesses generally:
• must charge VAT on taxable goods or services they supply;
• may reclaim any VAT they’ve paid on business-related goods or services;
• keep a range of business records which will allow the government to check that they have got things right

If you’re a VAT-registered business you must report the amount of VAT you’ve charged and the amount of VAT you’ve paid to the government on a regular basis. It will be a formal submission and it is likely that the reporting will be made online.

If you’ve charged more VAT than you’ve paid, you have to pay the difference to the government. If you’ve paid more VAT than you’ve charged, you can reclaim the difference.

VAT differs from sales tax which is only imposed on the final sale to the consumer. This contrasts with VAT which is imposed on goods and services and is charged throughout the supply chain, including on the final sale. VAT is also imposed on imports of goods and services so as to ensure that a level playing field is maintained for domestic providers of those same goods and services.

Not all businesses will need to register for VAT. In simple terms, only businesses that meet a certain minimum annual turnover requirement will have to register for VAT. That is, many small businesses will not need to register for VAT. The specific conditions (such as minimum annual turnover) that will help identify businesses that do not need to register for VAT are not expected to be announced before October.

Four-step guide to help companies in the UAE to prepare for VAT implementation, (which can take between eight and 12 months). It may take longer if some of the activities are outsourced, for example IT.
1. Impact assessment
• Complete an impact assessment to understand VAT and its commercial effects.
• Prioritise issues and prepare for implementation.
• This is a key step.
• The assessment looks at its various effects on the organisational, operational and financial levels.
• Typically, an impact assessment needs between eight and 12 weeks to complete and that leaves a relatively short time, no more than nine months, to affect implementation.

2. Project preparation
• Prepare a project plan and secure the necessary internal and external resources and ensure the stakeholders in the business are informed.
• VAT is not just a finance project. It affects all transactions and so touches every aspect of the organisation.
• VAT affects IT systems, finance, human resources, legal teams and even inter-organisation transactions.
• IT systems are integral to the process because they need to be updated to handle the VAT.
• Preparation will entail a cost that companies will need to budget.

3. Design and implementation
• Based on the impact assessment, they need to develop a road map for identifying the changes required, understanding the scheduling requirements and planning for work.
• Implementing the changes across various levels in the organisation starts with mapping the transaction footprint to understand the VAT obligations of the business. This should form the basis for making changes across different verticals in the organisation such as IT, supply chain and human resources.
• Businesses need to design the systems and reports and train their staff on the process requirements for VAT.
• This may require a new software/ new release, or upgrade, Consider:
 COA changes,
 Contract changes
 Order, receipt and invoice formats
 Cash flow and budget updates
 Impact on open orders on1 Jan 2018
 Whether any interfaces are affected
• Businesses must implement necessary changes to systems, controls, reporting and governance in good time.

4. Registering and testing
• Businesses need to register for VAT .
• They need to test that their business systems are capable of compliance and reporting.
• Businesses need to integrate the changes made into the operations and train relevant staff about their new roles and responsibilities to achieve the desired result.
• Testing the VAT system, processes and controls during a “live” phase (expected from January 1, 2018) is important to allow for the complete and accurate completion of the first VAT return.
• Make sure to test adequate volumes of data – e.g. processing a quarterly Vat return on all sales and purchase transactions may involve a lot of processing for some companies.
• Make sure to test interfaces.

Its about, 360-degree patient interactions and leveraging technology to streamline processes and workflows across an organisation to ensure that each patient is efficiently placed to the appropriate level of care each time, every time.

- Healthcare professionals from every department involved can see a complete picture of the
patient’s needs, interactions, care steps and wellness plans.
- Integrated knowledge base specific to your business and expert areas ensures patient care is
streamlined and questions are quickly answered.
- Multiple channels available, allowing patients a single point of access to information and
resources, enabling them to make appointments, update personal information, and
communicate health professionals throughout their care.
- Enable patients to share their medical records and device readings with authorized health
professionals online.

Secure
- Regulate data access with CRM’s combination of role-based security, record-level security,
and field-level security.
- Comprehensive auditing and control on activities within the solution.
- Control identity management and ease the burden of mundane password management by
setting up various standards-based identity providers if authenticated sign-on security is
required.
- Set up web-based public-facing portals that connect to CRM and run in your data centre or

Windows Azure via CRM’s flexible web portal framework.
- Available on cloud or on premise
- Ability to develop and to test customizations in an isolated, non-production online environment.

This offering is part of a suite of medical solutions from industry specialist Capita, that are widely adopted in the U.K. National Health Service

The “Core” solution for spa has had huge success since it launch last year in the U.K. In the last quarter of 2016 it was introduced to the U,A.E. and early adopters include Nikki Beach Spa and the Burj Club.

The event will end with a live demonstration by Premier Software who have partnered with Deyafa Systems locally to provide Spa solutions to the region since 2003.

If you have not received an invitation and would like to attend then please contact Deyafa Systems as soon as possible to register. Take this opportunity to meet with other Spa professionals and to get update insights to guide your strategy.

Dubai Airport authorities will enforce stricter baggage rules that will come into effect on March 8, 2017.

The new rules may change the way you pack your suitcase.

“Dubai International provides some of the most sophisticated baggage systems in the world. However, even the most technologically advanced systems can be disrupted by irregular shaped or oversized bags. Bags that are round. or do not have a flat surface of any kind are by far the largest source of baggage jams.” Ali saidAngizeh, Vice President of Terminal Operations at Dubai International. These jams can shut down sections of our system, delay baggage delivery to the aircraft and inconvenience our customers,”

Round bags, i.e. those that do not have a flat surface, will not be checked-in.

Dubai Airports has a advised all airlines operating into the airport of the new regulations that will take place next month. “Passengers, who show up at the airport with non-compliant baggage, will also be given the option to have it repacked in boxes for a fee.”

Baggage larger than 90cm long, 75cm high and 60cm wide, or that does not have a single flat surface, will need to be checked in at the oversized baggage counter. Allow extra time to check-in oversize baggage.
Excess baggage must be repacked and excess baggage fees will typically apply.

Do not carry liquids over 100ml in your hand luggage. Place containers in a clear, re-sealable plastic bag
Put the re-sealable bag in your hand luggage.

All commercial establishments have to use Arabic while issuing invoices and receipts, for example at hotel reception desks and in restaurants and spas – menu cards, price tags – in addition to any other language of the business owner’s choice.

e.g. see http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-receipts-invoices-in-arabic-by-2017–631607.html

“Consumers who don’t know English should be able to read and understand what is written on the invoices they receive.”
“According to statistics ….a large segment of consumers in Dubai belong to GCC and other Arab states. Hence, it’s important to provide information and services in Arabic language, particularly while receiving enquiries and complaints and in after-sales services provided through call centres.” Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, Executive Director of CCCP
The CCCP will monitor businesses in 2017 to ensure compliance with the new rules.

This is reiterated in the’ Blue Book’.Businesses Policies. Businesses Policies, shall be written in Arabic and foreign language and displayed in a prominent visible please to consumer.
Invoice
1) Businesses / Service providers shall give the consumers a purchase invoice in Arabic and foreign language, stating all details related to goods / services such as: prices, quantities of purchased items, as well as the trade name.
2) Businesses / Service providers shall clarify the sold items separating each item alone, and stating the item value against each item. The invoice shall not be made only with the total invoice amount.
3) In the absence of a separate document of the warranty. The warranty must be written with coverage and the duration in the invoices.

Think about:
- Who will create, maintain, validate data?.
- Which printed documents are affected? cheques? quotes? menu cards?, price lists? price tags? till receipts? invoices?
- Which reports and interfaces may be affected?
- What business polices, contracts/warranties may need to be updated to be in dual language in the same document?

Lets hope some commonsense is going to prevail in practice particularly for B2B. Vonsider for example”

– Relabeling all existing stock in a retail supermarket chain. Is it acceptable instead just to provide on shelf dual language price labels?
– What about goods sourced from abroad. If all stock ahs to be relabelled on receipt then again there increased costs and delays. Not so easy for frozen, or perishable items.
– When you are buying to order you can specify the labelling /packaging you want but what if you want to post buy – e.g. a supplier offers a special promotion of a fashion item – at short notice, for a line you have never sold before and maybe will never be sold again – do you buy or not given the additional complexity – of l the attached labels and washing instructions need to be translated etc.
- Spot happy hour sales promotions to pick up sales in slack periods e.g. buy one get one free , e.g. for a restaurant which has no bookings early evening, or a supermarket, or Eid promotions now all have to be translated. What about marking down the price of short shelf life stock? Is it just enough to put up a bilingual notice?
– What about on line?
- How will it impact e commerce companies, airline tickets, discounters or booking engines like Zomato or Groupon?.

The impact on business systems- more data to hold, longer time to print, (maybe for one invoice O.K. but what if you print 100,000 a month?) printers that handle both l to R and R to L printing in the same document
document management and scanning systems that now have to work with dual language for e.g. scanned invoices.

Synergy is a well established, solution provider across the Middle East region.
Synergy has a strong presence in several key verticals; Manufacturing, Construction, Hospitality Insurance, Financial Services, Government. Media, Oil and Gas, Distribution.
Synergy is particularly well known as a Gold Partner of both Infor Sunsystems, and Microsoft Dynamics Ax and for its implementation expertise and exceptional support. It is based centrally in Dubai in the Karama district since it was registered in 1991, and occupies a 7,000 sq ft office with around 80 full time employees.